The dastardly Mr. Deedes

JUPIter Fund Management’s affable, vice- chairman ed Bonham carter resents the so-called ‘star manager’ culture within his industry. he says: ‘People who are exceptionally talented are often not normal people. their make-up is quite often different. so managing egos can be difficult.’ Does ed, 56, have anyone in mind? his prickly ex-boss, Jupiter’s buccaneering founder John Duffield, 76, has certainly never been accused of hiding his light under a bushel. RAFFISH Italian tycoon Flavio Briatore is bringing his Monaco restaurant-cumnightclub Twiga to London. I’m told medallion man Flavio, 66, who for a time boldly squired model Naomi Campbell, has just dried the ink on a deal for a prime spot on Sloane Street near his clothing emporium Billionaire Couture. What can we expect inside? ‘Lots of flashy Russians hosing down half-naked young women with champagne,’ sighs my weary catering source. Still, I’d better pop in when it opens, just to check. saInsBUrY’s chief finance officer John rogers is as vigilant with his own finances as he is manning the purse strings at the embattled grocer. Perusing sainsbury’s company report, I notice the beancounter, 46, takes advantage of the firm’s share Purchase Plan, which allows employees to squirrel £115 of their pre-tax salary towards company stock. rogers’ pre-tax monthly take-home is a princely £56,000 (£675,000 a year) still, every little helps, as sainsbury’s wouldn’t say. MANAGEMENT consultant-turned-shirt maker Nick Wheeler has paid himself £16m after his firm Charles Tyrwhitt reported bumper profits. What’s his secret? Perhaps it’s the silver-maned Old Etonian’s dogged commitment to customer relations. Each shirt comes with his email address printed on the label. Surely it can’t be his private address, I ask, pushing the send key. Moments later, Wheeler, 51, pings back curtly: ‘Depends what your email’s about!’ cItY law firms allen & Overy and Freshfields – part of the square Mile’s socalled ‘magic circle’ of elite legal outfits – are scoffing humble pie. they’ve withdrawn offers of work experience included as lots at a charity auction after it was pointed out that offering work experience to the highest bidder, rather than on merit, made a mockery of their diversity policies. You need a heart of stone not to laugh.